Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Me on Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob off to a remote island off the coast of Wales where he discovers the crumbling ruins of a home for orphaned children. As he explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, he learns that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on the island for a good reason. And somehow, as impossible as it sounds, they may still be alive.

This book is so haunting, so spell-binding. It feels so real and powerful and unbelievably creepy. So high is the creep factor, but in a classic and intriguing way. Jacob is searching for answers, to the truth behind his grandfather and his stories and his life, for something more, for somewhere to belong. This book is so unique a story and so powerful an idea. The author has crafted something amazing with both his prose and all the found photographs.

I will say that there's time travel, but in such a non-traditional sense. No science, forget science. Forget physics. To me, it felt like time travel in terms of power and magic and pathways and connections.

The photographs, like the one used for the cover, add an elusive element to the reading of the book: the ability to see the book and its characters, its settings, its mystery and monsters and journey.

Perhaps this book is not for the faint of heart, but I hope you are brave enough to experience the wondrous and strange and haunting story that is this book. It'll be worth the shudder down your spine.